Re: South African bulbs(IBS bulb forum)
Dear All
While on the subject of summerdormancy in bulbs, here is a copy of some
postings on the same subject:
"Rosa St.Julian, CPRW" wrote:
> If you have for instance a new bed and you want to plant spring blooming
> bulbs and perennials, when spring is over and the flowers stop blooming,
> where do you plant the summer flowers and bulbs without disturbing the root or foliage structure of the existing plants(s). The flowers are still there or bulbs that you don't dig up taking up space but there's no bloom.
> And when you get 3 seasons of non-blooming plants (spring, summer, fall)
> you have triple the problem with no room to plant the winter blooming
> plant. I don't get how this is handled correctly to have color in all
> seasons. Please help!!! ~rosie email: rstjulian@aicron.com
Dear Rosie,
Your problem is of particular interest, which I come often
across when dealing with with the "espaces verts" such as public parks etc.
There are sufficient bulbsspecies to provide flowering every month of
the year. The problem is that many species don't like being watered
during their dormancy and tend to disappear over the years. If
annuals(or perennuals) have to be planted in the summer one can use
wintergrowing bulbs which support summerhumidity (such as Ipheions,
certain Narcissus, Leucojums, Allium flavum).The summergrowing
Crocosmia, Allium tuberosum can be associated with the wintergrowing
Allium flavum, Allium cernum, Tritelea laxa which also support summer
humidity. Quite a few species don't mind being disturbed during late
spring in order to plant annuals
To provide un undisturbed and dry summer dormancy (especially
important for many south african Cape bulbs) a garden should have a
non-irrigated area. In these typical mediterranean rockeries succulents
or Mediteranean perenials or shrubs can provide some interest during the
"dessertlike" summerperiod.
Dave Fenwick Devonshire UK(1/5/2000):
"(GROUND COVER FOR BULBS- plant association, support and protection)>
> I try and get the association, support and protection correct for each bulb species I grow, but a lot of it is by trial and error, but one day I hope to have it just right . I've presently just been given some Diascia by the collection holder but I propagate a couple of hundred SA mesems so I can bed them out each year. I direct stick things like Carpobrotus edulus and
muirii, the latter rather a choice plant for low bulbs re: support and
protection; and take 5-7.5cm cuttings of Delosperma, Lampranthus and
Drosanthemum to root and bed out after 3 weeks. I'm also going to be
looking into the more hardy forms of Osteospermums and will be building
up stock of a variety of Glumicalyx at some point as G. flanaganii
HWEL0325 looks hardy and good for general cultivation. I'm also looking
at / for, hardy evergreen sub-shrubs. For shelter Phygelius are very
good as are the South African Buddleias (loricata, salvifolia), they
also make a good evergreen backdrop. I'm also trying Salvia africana-lutea"
--
Lauw de Jager
BULB'ARGENCE, 30300 Fourques, France
Region: Provence/Camargue Climat: Zone 9a (Mediterranean)
Tel: 33 466 016 519 Fax: 33 466 011 245
Web : http://www.bulbargence.com/
mailto: de Jager@bulbargence.com
